From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Ahead of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential primaries, many of the aspirants, including Vice President Yomi Osinbajo and former Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, have visited Kano, lobbying for support from the delegates. All of them presented themselves as the best and promised to lead the party to victory if given the mandate.
In fact, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi’s campaign in Kano has been acclaimed as the most “aggressive” even though some political analysts have opined that he took it “personal” when, during his address at Ante Chamber, Government House, Kano, he proudly boasted that he was not only the most qualified among all aspirants, but that he was far more better than the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Osinbajo.
In Amaechi’s calculation, having served as a two-time Speaker of Rivers state House of Assembly, two-time Governor of the same state and now Minister of Transport, he stood on a vintage point to understand the workings of the government and would make a better President than Senator Tinubu who was only a Senator and two-time Governor of Lagos State.
Though Amaechi’s supporters saw his comment as a strong political weapon, many believe Amaechi’s statement did not score any political goal for him, particularly in Kano, where he also confirmed remains Senator Tinubu’s stronghold. However, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s reply to Amaechi’s comments confirmed this fact when he tactically told him that Kano politics “swings like a pendulum.”
Few days after Amaechi’s visit, Senator Tinubu, last Thursday flew into Kano. Rather than react to Amaechi’s claim, Tinubu avoided sepaking to journalists, but decided to win hearts of his immediate target—the delegates. While other aspirants would come and go after spending few hours, Tinubu who have insisted that Kano remained a second home for him elected to make his campaign a two-day affair.
He stayed back for a whole night. He had dinner with the delegates. He spent quality time discussing with them. He listened to them. He asked for their contributions and he also appreciated their views and advise. In a meeting that lasted almost a whole night, Tinubu made the delegates to understand that they were part and parcel of the party. He appreciated the fact that their votes were the only wings he needed to fly the party’s ticket and also convinced them on the reason they should give him their full support.
The frontline presidential aspirant who was billed to be in Kano at 10 a.m, Thursday, rather landed at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) minutes after 6 p.m to the cheering of his teeming supporters who patiently waited to receive him.
He was officially received by Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and members of his cabinet, APC state chairman, Prince Abdullahi Abbas and members of his executive.
A long convoy escorted Tinubu to the houses of business mogul, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, and his old-time friend and political associate, Alhaji Yusuf Ali, where he had brief discussions with the two elders. From Yusuf Ali’s residence, Tinubu proceeded to Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Sports Hall and met a waiting mammoth crowd of his supporters.
He waved at them and headed to Government House, where he passed the night after a long meeting with Kano delegates at the Coronation Hall. Tinubu wooed Kano delegates, taking time to explain to them why he should be supported to emerge the party’s presidential candidate.
“I hereby appeal to you to support my presidential ambition by voting for me to clinch the party’s ticket at the forthcoming primary election. Today is the day I have come to ask for your support to be president of Nigeria. You can put me there with your votes. I believe in myself, I’m smart, intelligent and courageous, don’t make mistake, choose wisely, choose me, I beg you and you will never regret supporting me,” Tinubu said.
The former Governor of Lagos State also promised to tackle insecurity, revive the economy, develop agricultural sector, as well as road infrastructure. “Commodity exchange is to guarantee to the farmers that there is a market for all the produce that is coming,” he added.
Tinubu’s speech attracted a standing ovation by all the delegates who chorused in uninism that he is their adopted candidate. Most delegates who spoke to our Correspondent insisted that Tinubu will have a bulk vote from Kano.
“You see, I must tell you that Tinubu has already won the votes of Kano delegates. We do not need any instruction from Governor Ganduje to give Tinubu our support. Even before now, you are aware that Tinubu has always been with us. We see him as the son of the soil and he has been supportive not only to Kano, but to the entire North. So, it is only natural that Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu enjoys our support. We will not only vote for him en masse, we will also lobby delegates from other parts of the northern states to vote him. Kano is for Tinubu and I assure you that he will surely emerge as the presidential flagbearer of our great party, the APC,” one of the delegates who is a top government official told our Correspondent.
Also, in his remarks at the meeting, Governor Ganduje, stated that it was pay-back time for Tinubu. He expressed the need to garner support for the presidential aspirant who he said has sacrificed alot for the growth and unity of APC. According to Ganduje, Tinubu remained a brand of leader Nigeria and Nigerians need at this point of the nation’s history. He said Tinubu has the intellect and political will to reposition the country and give Nigerians good leadership.
Indeed, pundits are of the view that Tinubu remains the candidate to beat at the APC presidential primaries with such massive support from Kano known to have the highest number of delegates.
